If you want to balance your mood, try fitting in a yoga session. In fact, each yoga pose has unique and subtle benefits, from helping you feel more energized to soothing stress after a long day according to research from Boston University. As you tune into your body, you become more aware of your sensations and how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. Then you can release and reconnect with these yoga poses for each mood.
Relax in Downward Facing Dog Feeling stressed? Forward bending poses calm anxiety by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which helps you feel relaxed and release stress. Feel at ease with forward bending poses, like downward facing dog, to release tension. Begin on your hands and knees. Then slowly straighten your legs as you spread the palms. Hold the pose and gently breathe.
Feel Energized in Low Lunge Need an energy boost? Skip your morning coffee and wake up naturally with this invigorating posture. Back bending poses, like low lunge, activate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). According to Yoga to Cope, this SNS branch of the nervous system puts your body in alert mode, making you feel energized by increasing blood flow to the body.
To enter the pose, start in downward-facing dog. Then step the right foot forward between your hands. Lower your left knee to the floor as you raise both arms forward. Lift from your upper chest into a subtle backbend.
You probably already know the amazing benefits of music, to uplift and inspire. But, did you know that music may actually impact your health in positive ways? So, turn up your favorite song and discover the surprising health benefits of music!
Could provide pain relief Soothing music may make the pain go away, or at least feel a little better. According to Psychology Today, the body experiences pain when nerves relay the information from an injury to the brain. Listening to music that expresses pleasant emotions, like contentment, could actually impact those signals and alleviate the experience of physical pain.
May help boost heart health Have you ever made the connection between the beats in music with your own heartbeat? A close connection exists between music and heart rate, and your breathing and heart rhythms actually sync with music as you listen, reported Scientific American. Because music could alter the heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, physicians could use music to aid patients with heart conditions. For example, doctors could play relaxing music to calm heart and respiration rates, a therapy used for patients who have had a heart attack.
Helps to elevate your mood When you feel blue, turn up your favorite feel good playlist. According to research published in Frontiers, listening to uplifting music could shift your mood. Participants who felt unpleasant emotions, like anger or anxiety, eased their tension by listening to calming music. Those who felt depressed also experienced validation and comfort by having their feelings acknowledged when listening to music that reflected their current mood.
Could aid patients recover from strokes Doctors use music therapy as a way to help stroke survivors recover from memory loss and speech impairment. Harvard Health explained that stroke patients may lose their ability to speak clearly but music stimulates the right areas of the brain to revive motor or muscle-activating nerves, which could help with speech recovery.
Helps to increases endurance If you want to add an extra boost to your workout routine, turn up the jams! According to Scientific American, music may increase your endurance, especially when you listen to exhilarating and upbeat songs. Powerful music, like a rock beat or belted note, stimulates neural circuitry that could help you stay motivated and push yourself to be stronger.
May stimulate memory Have you ever noticed how a song can bring you back to a specific memory in your past? According to Harvard Health, music activates areas of the brain associated with memory. It may even help people with dementia restore memory loss, like a tool to open the doors to your “memory vaults”. The Mayo Clinic found similar benefits: Musical memories are often preserved in people who have Alzheimer’s disease and it is recommended to play music to connect with loved ones who have the disease.
Helps You Focus Do you listen to music while you study? If so, you are not alone. That’s because music can help you focus. A 2007 study from the Stanford University School of Medicine suggested that music can help you better absorb and interpret new information. That’s because listening to music engages your brain and actually trains it to pay more attention to what you are learning. So put your headphones on and study.
Eating healthy has oodles of positive benefits – for the body and the mind alike. When we eat well we feel good, when we feel good we’re happier, when we’re happier we’re more productive… and the wonderful cycle continues. Increasingly, shops and restaurants around the world are getting on the healthy eating bandwagon – making it easier for people to treat their bodies right. This list of 10 of the healthiest foods in the world is just a beginning guide – a way to understand the essential vitamins and minerals the human body needs to stay functioning at its best. And as an added boost – these healthy foods are all downright delicious!
SPINACH This nutrient-dense green superfood is readily available – fresh, frozen or even canned. One of the healthiest foods on the planet, spinach is packed with energy while low in calories, and provides Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and essential folate. EASY EATING TIP: Sauté with onion and add to an omelet for an easy, healthy meal.
BLACK BEANS Filled with super healthy antioxidants, black beans digest slowly – keeping you feeling full for longer. These little beauties are full of calcium, protein and fiber, and they also taste great! EASY EATING TIP: Think Mexican food! Burritos, nachos, tacos… whatever tickles your fancy.
WALNUTS With more antioxidants than any other nut, walnuts are also brimming with Vitamin E, and rich in plant serums, omega 3 oils, and healthy fats. EASY EATING TIP: Keep a supply in your bag for an easy, healthy snack on-the-go
BEETS Good for the brain and skilled at lowering blood pressure, the humble beet is often overlooked as one of the healthiest foods on earth. The brightly-colored root vegetable is filled with folate, magnesium and Vitamin C. EASY EATING TIP: Grate them into salads for a sweet, crunchy boost.
AVOCADO Eating just one or two avocados a week gives you all the benefit of healthy monounsaturated fats, Vitamin B6 and loads of folate. Check with your local grocer to find out when this spreadable fruit is in season in your area. EASY EATING TIP: On toast with salt and pepper, or a slice of cheese if you’re that way inclined.
DARK CHOCOLATE According to recent research, chocolate contains more antioxidants, gram-for-gram, than most fruit juices – great news for chocoholics! On top of protecting the body from diseases and helping to prevent heart conditions, dark chocolate is a natural mood-booster. EASY EATING TIP: Eat this healthy food in moderation – just one or two squares per day is enough to reap the benefits.
RASPBERRIES Like most berries, raspberries are filled with antioxidants, to help keep the body healthy and free of disease. Fresh or frozen, they also provide Vitamin C, calcium and iron. EASY EATING TIP: Sprinkle them on yogurt or porridge in the morning to start your day in a sweet and delicious way.
GARLIC This pungent bulb has been used to ward off disease for centuries, as it inhibits the growth of bacteria, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and has some serious anti-inflammatory power. EASY EATING TIP: Crush it and cook it. Garlic tastes great in everything from dressings and sauces to curries and soups.
LEMONS Often touted as the world’s healthiest food, lemons have strong anti-inflammatory qualities and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. They also have just as much Vitamin C as oranges. EASY EATING TIP: Add a slice of lemon to your tea or water bottle to get healthy and hydrated at the same time.
